Keeping the Spark: An Electrician’s Blog

Posted on: 11 February 2021

You may not give your home's electrical system much thought until you start having trouble with circuit breakers flipping off. When your demand for power exceeds what your electrical panel can provide, it could be time for an electrical panel upgrade. Here are signs you might need a new electrical panel and an overview of how a new panel is installed.

Signs You Might Need An Electrical Panel Upgrade

You might need an upgrade when you buy a new appliance or hot tub. If your home is a few decades old or older and has the original electrical panel, the panel may not be able to keep up with all of your electronic equipment. Plus, an older panel might be rusted or have other problems that make it a fire hazard.

If you have to use a lot of power strips or extension cords in your home, you may want to talk to an electrician about upgrading your panel so your electrical system is safer and not overloaded. If your appliances shock you lightly, your lights flicker, or the panel has melted wires or a charred case, it may be time to upgrade and replace it with a new panel.

Features A New Panel Provides

When the electrician installs a new electrical panel, you'll probably have more circuits in your home and still have room left to add more circuits in the coming years. This reduces your reliance on extension cords and eliminates problems with tripping circuits due to overloads. In addition, new electrical panels supply more amps than old panels, so you'll have the power you need for modern appliances.

Steps For Installing A New Electrical Panel

You'll need to get a permit to have work done on your electrical panel, and once the work is done, the code office will inspect the panel to make sure it is installed correctly. Your electric company has to disconnect the power before work begins and then hook up the power once work is complete. It could take a full day for the work to be complete, so you'll have to prepare for a day without electricity.

The first step is to disconnect and remove the old panel. Then, the new panel can be installed and wiring hooked up to each breaker. The panel is also installed to the line leading from the power company's pole. You might also need to have new circuit wiring and outlets added to your home when you get a panel upgrade, and this adds to the amount of work that needs to be done. The electrician will prepare you for the process so you know what to expect before work begins.